A comparative study of the pharyngeal airway space, measured with cone beam computed tomography, between patients with different craniofacial morphologies

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aims to determine any existing association between airway dimensions, measured with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and the different patient craniofacial morphologies.

Material and methods: Sixty CBCT (Dental Picasso Master 3D) images, from patients treated at the Orthodontics Master at Valencia University were selected. The program InVivoDental 5.1 was used to visualize sections, analyze three-dimensional images, and perform airway measurements in the three planes of the space. Intra- and interobserver error methods were recorded. After that, measurements at three different levels of the airway (upper, medium, lower) were taken, in both the anteroposterior and transversal directions of the airway space. The area (mm(2)) of the airway space at the three levels was also measured.

Results: In the anteroposterior airway measurements, there were differences between the measurements by level. The magnitude of these differences depended on the skeletal pattern of the individual. In the transversal airway measurements and in the area airway measurements, there were no differences according to the skeletal pattern. However, in the transversal direction, measurements in the lower level were significantly higher than in the superior level in all cases. When measuring the area, significantly higher measurements in the upper level were recorded. The homogeneity between medium and lower levels decreased gradually from class I to class III subjects.

Conclusions: No statistically significant results were observed that related the anteroposterior and vertical skeletal craniofacial morphology with airway dimensions, although some specific associations have been detected for certain airway levels or for pattern combinations.

Keywords: 3-dimensional; 3D; Airway; CBCT; Craniofacial morphology.